• Home
• Automotive
• News Article

RTA Takes Delivery of 10 New Hybrid Cars

Dubai (United Arab Emirates): The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) recently announced that it received 10 modern Toyota Camry cars fitted with hybrid engines from Al-Futtaim Motors in Dubai, to join the fleet of RTA Dubai Taxi vehicles. These vehicles will be subjected to a six months road test.

Delivery documents of the 10 hybrid vehicles supplied by Al-Futtaim Motors were signed by Abdul Aziz Malik, CEO of RTA Dubai Taxi Agency , who commented on the event by saying: "This deal signals RTA commitment to protect lives & properties, conserve the environment & natural wealth, and improve levels of occupational health & public safety. This is envisaged to be achieved through applying the latest technology to minimize environmental & noise pollution originating from transport modes.

"Through inaugurating these vehicles, which are operated by twin engines using fuel & electrical technology, RTA is seeking to conserve the environment and apply the principles of sustained development, which can shape the future & welfare of human beings. This initiative revolves around the concept of applying the currently available modern technology to suppress pollution emanating from vehicle exhausts, improve the quality of fuel used in public transport modes, and implement the global standards governing gas emissions from vehicles in Dubai.

" RTA is definitely committed to protecting the environment, preserving the nature and enhancing the public safety through striking a balance & integration between roads and mass transit systems such that all mass transit modes will be the favourite option for mobility. Moreover, RTA is set to use technologies capable of suppressing noise and pollution caused by various transit modes" added Malik.

He praised the partnership relationship between the RTA and Al-Futtaim Motors Co ., pointing out that most of RTA taxi fleet vehicles is bought from Al-Futtaim Motors Co . " RTA is currently conducting a complete overhaul of mass transit systems in the emirate to make them environment friendly. A work team was formed to replace taxis and the existing public buses with environment friendly vehicles using hybrid engines of fuel & electricity. This marks the first step in a master plan aiming to convert all vehicles in Dubai to environment friendly vehicles. The work team of this scheme focused its efforts on achieving key four objectives, namely: utilize the existing knowhow to minimize pollution from vehicle exhausts, improve the quality of fuel used in public buses, introduce the global standards of vehicle gas emissions to Dubai, and start implementation of the environment-friendly hybrid vehicles technology in Dubai.

" RTA submitted draft legislations to the National Transport Authority, which have recently been endorsed by the Ministerial Council for Services. The first decision provides for cutting the maximum permissible percentage of vehicle exhausts. The policy calls for reducing the percentage of carbon monoxide from 4.5% to 2.5%, and reducing the rate of hydrocarbons from 800ppm to 300ppm. The second decision is related to abolishing registration, or renewal of registration, of light vehicles whose age exceeds 20 years, provided that this period shall be reduced to 15 years as of January 2010. It also imposes a ban on the imported used light vehicles whose age exceeds 5 years, as well as banning the import of used buses & heavy vehicles whose age exceeds 7 years" said Malik.

Simon Frith, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Motors , said: "We are working hand in hand with Toyota Motor Corp. International to evaluate the performance of vehicles fitted with hybrid engines operating under exceptional weather conditions, such as the climate of the UAE. We, as a leading global corporation, are proud of our partnership with the RTA , and fully support the initiative of the RTA to expand the use of hybrid vehicles in the emirate of Dubai".

" Al-Futtaim Motors Co . is committed to provide proper training to RTA drivers, technicians and engineers. Training could also be extended to cover Dubai Police and Ambulance Services to ensure that all parties are geared to start the experimental programme of this sort of vehicles" added Mr. Frith.

-Ends-

© Press Release 2008